SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON'S England reign came to an end with the Swede revealing: "I don't know what more we could have done about it."

Eriksson's brave boys stumbled at the penalty hurdle against Portugal again ... just as they had done in Euro 2004.

And Eriksson said: "I didn't think we deserved to lose. We started the second half well and controlled the game, but then came the sending-off.

"We practised penalties so much I don't know what more we could have done about it.

"The players fought enormously when we were 10 against 11, but we are out now and that hurts.

"It is very painful and I can only say sorry to the fans - they have been fantastic."

Now, however, Eriksson must be resigned to the inevitable criticism which will come his way - and BBC pundit Alan Hansen led the way with the condemnation. He declared: "The manager contributed to the downfall of England.

"Everybody will question the manager and quite rightly so.

"At no time in this World Cup did England get going and play well.

"The way that they played against Portugal, I don't think they had any chance of winning the World Cup.

"The formation never looked like working, but Sven never looked like changing it. With the players at his disposal you have to question the manger - and quite rightfully so.

"English players going into a World Cup will want to play the style they know - and 4-5-1 isn't that.

"Why did they play so badly throughout the World Cup?

"They played well in the first half of the first game, but then after that we just haven't got it going.

"Right from the start of the match they didn't look comfortable playing the system."

It will be a different story for Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose side now have a one-in-four chance of emulating the feat achieved by Brazil when Big Phil was in charge in Japan and South Korea four years ago. Portugal will play their semi-final in Munich on Wednesday and Scolari said:

"We have a possibility of victory in the next game as well - and we get to the final.

"But in principle we are taking things step by step.

"We would be happy with any adversary,'' he said, when asked if he would prefer to face Brazil or France in the semi-finals.

Scolari also paid tribute to the way England responded to the sending-off of Wayne Rooney.

He said: "Congratulations to England. With 10 players they were incredible -it was an electrifying match.

"We didn't take advantage because we shot too much from outside the penalty area.

"England closed the way to goal very well and it was like playing 11 against 11."